Fall?

Darn it, I wanted summer to last longer.  Hopefully here in MT, it will be a short s*&^ and be gone for a bit of late summer this week.  (And yes, snow is a four letter word)

In honor of the Boss finishing the house painting, I was creative today and made him an apple pie.  I used  a friends little apples from her tree (bad idea, takes forever to peel that many) so I'm curious how it tastes.

We're also bidding farewell to our electric griddle, as it was taking 12 minutes a side to cook pancakes today.

In other news, the kittens are great fly killers, although they aren't fast enough to keep up with the little buggers.

Think we're going to paint the front door a bold color, more to come on that later...

Began soccer season today, Tater actually played better than she did last year, she seems less afraid of the ball.  She also was grinning from ear to ear as she brought the ball up the sideline today, all on her own, no backing away from defenders or stepping back for her teammates to take the ball.  Our poor girls only had 1 sub, while the other team was able to sub all but the goalie every so often.  New age group, bigger field and more competition, but she is stepping up to the challenge.

I sadly have a funeral to attend tomorrow of one of the Boss's co-workers, who passed away last week.

Be Happy! Be Healthy! Be sure to hug your loved ones!

Holy Saturday, Batgirl

So, you just have to know how my day went as I'm checking email at 9:07 this morning and discover that I am supposed to be at a meeting, across the valley, in 23 minutes.  

Due to a series of texts the night before, I knew there was a good chance I would be going in to work today to work noon to five for a sick co-worker.

I flew out of bed, dove into the shower, and was walking out the door by 9:27.  Made it to my meeting by 9:37, spent the next hour in a great meeting with three other ladies I respect very much.

Yours truly is teaching first and second graders Bible skills for our church this year.  I can't believe how excited I am about this...Have my class list and my teacher's manual ready for Wednesday night.

I was feeling frustrated by the fact that I am rarely asked to help out at our church, and figured that part of it was that we have three very busy children and my church family decided I didn't need anything extra.

I had just over an hour before I had to be at work and all I needed to do is eat lunch.  I hit Target, scored some great study aids for a little gal I work with in math, amazing soccer socks for Tater for her first soccer game tomorrow and a bottle of water.

Ran to my favorite lunch stop and snagged a clubfoot sandwich (and learned lettuce is a no-go for my stomach anymore) and then headed to work.

Not only was I working a Saturday, but I was working at our Information Desk for an entire shift (I only ever work half shifts).

Quiet day at work, picked up my allergy meds (Rx and OTC), gathered up Tater who had spent the day with a friend and am at home, happily watching my beloved Bobcats dominate their game.

The Boss finished the house today, next step is to sand and paint all the trim and we're golden.  I found a front step configuration that I love, so will be taking the boss to see it and see what he thinks.  We want a bigger landing and railings on the steps to help when we have injured kiddos...I figure if we do it, the kids will stay healthy!

And of course, another kitty picture...just cause!

Be Happy! Be Healthy! Be sure to watch some football (and yell LOUD!)!

And it begins!

Today did not find me at work attending the staff meeting.  Thanks to the generosity of a co-worker, I was able to spend my morning standing in the sunshine on a golf course on a beautiful Montana day.

The whole reason for this round of "escape from work for a 3 day weekend" was Bean.  He became interested in running as a 6th grader and is now in his second year of high school running.

We (the Boss and I and all the other parents) stood on the course and watched our kidlets run circles around us 3 times.

We lucked out that Bean wore bright neon green compression shorts under his running shorts.  Made him easy to find in the crowd.

By the end of mile 3, he had given his all and was in a blind sprint for the finish line.

And he ran all the way through, not slowing down near the finish just because there was no one behind him.

He's not thrilled with his time, but after nearly 8 months of no running, he's coming back strong and has great promise for the end of the season.

And, because I'm me, here is a long sought after picture of Mickey, pretending he's a dog.

This particular toy has been carried all over the house, including being brought to my bed one night when he wanted to sleep with me.

Be Happy! Be Healthy! Be sure to get some sunshine time in this weekend!

Updating part 2

The house update is coming along very well.

I found a new doorbell ringer that lights up to make it easier to find.

An updated light for by the door, lantern-style and a new color.

Both colors up, just trim to finish up in front.  

Then on to landscaping.  Patio, 2 flower beds and a pond are yet to come. Come spring, we hope to redo the front steps and add railings.

Things look great, with the new look to the house, I think some interior remodel projects might have to be done over the winter.  Wonder what the Boss will think???

Be Happy! Be Healthy! Be sure to smile!

An odd week

It began with a long weekend, so it's a short week.

Work was crazy yesterday, we were closed for 3 days and there were a lot of books to deal with....A lot! Thanks to some great co-workers, it was a fun day.

The kitties are growing like weeds. Bitsey doesn't fit in my hand anymore, she overlaps on every angle.  We head to the vet next week to see if she's caught up at all for her age.

Mickey is a terrorist, but he's so darn cute. He's also my cuddle bug when he's not psycho kitty.

I'm off to work today, then Pt for Dizzy then we're all home tonight.  Kind of a rare occurrence for us!  Bean has his first Cross Country meet this week and Dizzy is back to gymnastics for a partial practice. Tater begins soccer this week, first game is Sunday!  

Found a new light for outside the front door, new doorbell covers and I think the boss is painting the main color (boring beige, but had to coordinate with the garage) tomorrow and Friday. More pictures to come!

The curtains being closed is not a problem for them...They like to see outside!

Be Happy! Be Healthy! Be sure to smile at a random stranger!

Updating

Instead of the fun options for this weekend...we chose to celebrate Labor Day weekend at home with a much needed round of watch the Boss paint the house.  We had some damaged siding and knew we had to quit putting off this project (we've spent 3 years talking about it).  The good part of this is I had just enough time to wear down the Boss on the colors I wanted.

 House was stripped to insulation, forgot that picture.  Here we are with house wrap and new siding going on.

 New version of work table.  Somehow we can't get to his in the garage...

 Pictures of the evil rose plants (grafts are dead, these are just the root stock left) which were having a great time cutting up his legs.

 Extermination of evil rose plants begins...

 and a mass weeding/dead-heading session in the other bed...

 Out with the old...

In with the new!

Labor Day

Today is Labor Day.

A day to thank the American workers who make our country run.

This was always the day I helped my dad put on the annual IBEW Labor Day picnic in Missoula.  These men and women were hard workers and yes, they played hard too.

Without them, we are lost.  I don't know how to properly drywall, wire a home or put up roofing or trusses.

I lean construction here, as my dad spent most of my life working as an electrician, so these are the people I grew up around.  They don't dress up in nice clothes to work, their vehicles are often full of that stuff they need for work the next day and often come home very dirty and sweaty.

They're also the folks who were there to help when we needed them. I knew I could call on any of them and know they would be there for me.

They were worth their weight in gold.

Thank you to all you who labor.